MacBook Air gets NVIDIA graphics, storage bump

Apple just announced that the MacBook Air is getting an update to the new NVIDIA 9400M graphics system, as well as new 120GB hard drive and 128GB SSD drive options. The Air is also moving from microDVI to mini DisplayPort, like all of the Apple's new machines. The base model is still $1799, and there's a $2499 version with a 1.86GHz Core 2 Duo and SSD which'll be out in early November. Hit the jump for a breakdown of the configurations.

1.6GHz MacBook Air (MB543LL/A) - $1,799

• 1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 6MB L2 cache, 1066MHz System Bus
• 120GB 4200 rpm HDD

1.86GHz MacBook (MB940LL/A) - $2,499

• 1.86GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 6MB L2 cache, 1066MHz System Bus
• 128GB SSD
  

Shared Specs:

• Precision aluminum unibody enclosure, 12.8 x 8.94 x .16-.76-inches, 3.0 pounds
  
• 13.3-inches LED-backlit display, 1280 x 800 resolution
  
• 2GB 1066 MHz DDR3 memory
• Multi-Touch trackpad
• NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor with 256MB DDR3 SDRAM
  
• Mini DisplayPort output port with support for DVI, VGA, and dual-link DVI
  
• Built-in iSight camera, stereo speakers, microphone
• Audio Output
  
• Built-in AirPort Extreme WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1
  
• 1 USB 2.0 ports
• Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard & iLife '08
• 4.5 Hour Battery life

In The Box:

• MacBook Air
  
• Display Cleaning cloth
• 45W MagSafe Power Adapter, AC wall plug, and power cord
• Install / restore DVDs
• Printed and electronic documentation

[GamerJunkie @ Oct 14th 2008 1:38PM]

Yawn?

[Windzilla @ Oct 14th 2008 1:56PM]

is the answer Zzzzzzzzzzzz?

[Testies, Testies, 1, 2... 3? @ Oct 14th 2008 2:19PM]

At least it can run the 30" Cinema Display now... For all those who use their air for extreme graphics....

[politik @ Oct 14th 2008 3:31PM]

While the price is extremely disappointing, the new Air should be a huge damn speed improvement over that awful parallel-ATA, 800MHz FSB configuration. The revision has serial-ATA on both the iPod HDD and the SSD (where it was always needed), 6MB L2 Cache, 1Ghz FSB, DDR3 memory, and NVidia's chipset/GPU. Much better.

But when all is said and done, it's still a burn on your back pocket.

[Matt Ferens @ Oct 14th 2008 1:39PM]

All for the low low price of just $2500!

[zonamanoz @ Oct 14th 2008 1:41PM]

Under $2500!! *cough*

[spass @ Oct 14th 2008 1:49PM]

They haven't learned anything.
Looks lile Apple marketing people never read engadget.

[Testies, Testies, 1, 2... 3? @ Oct 14th 2008 2:21PM]

Why read Engadget when you essentially write Engadget?

[Wii60 @ Oct 14th 2008 1:40PM]

You just don't get it do you apple?

It's basically the same machine as the macbook. We want a netbook out of you guys, not another failed sonyesque ultraporable.

[patriotsn1 @ Oct 14th 2008 1:41PM]

Looks like powerpoint presentations I did in 7th grade.. What's with the terrible fake shadow?

[AnjoUSA @ Oct 14th 2008 4:57PM]

Apple sucks again...always expensive...
and where are the new cheap Macbook and Macbook Pro??

[Vander @ Oct 14th 2008 1:42PM]

Today no Microsoft news, Thanks

[Saad Rabia @ Oct 14th 2008 1:43PM]

All for the same overpriced tag. Lovely!

[haX0r @ Oct 14th 2008 1:54PM]

another crapple product!

[htd @ Oct 14th 2008 1:56PM]

great for the recession!

[diode3diode @ Oct 14th 2008 1:58PM]

For $2500, it might be sharp enough to cut a good piece of cake.

[tnkgrl @ Oct 14th 2008 2:08PM]

The Air is also switching from a PATA ZIF hard drive interface to a standard SATA interface - still 1.8", most likely still 5 mm.

[pretol @ Oct 14th 2008 4:45PM]

Here's steve head:
"How much money do I want to make? Hmmm... 3 gazzilion dollars... in order to make 3 gazzilion dollars I have to charge 2500 per laptop. Seems right."

[Mads @ Oct 14th 2008 6:56PM]

i agree - any info on the type of drive in there???

Br
Mads

[Caspian @ Oct 14th 2008 2:30PM]

Shit! 128 SSD can I get it into my existing AIR?
Why don't they make it 0.7cm or 0.68cm thinner than the envy?

Nvidia 9800 will make the battery faster to dry out!

[Caspian @ Oct 14th 2008 2:30PM]

No buttonless trackpad for AIR? How about 4 finger gestures? Can we get an update? Hello Apple miniDVI? What are you thinking beforehand? why dont you standardize earlier...

[Anjin @ Oct 14th 2008 2:36PM]

Why no memory upgrade? Seriously you have to be kidding. How hard would it have been to up the memory to 4GB in the better model. WTF?

[robert j loomis iii @ Oct 14th 2008 2:37PM]

Apple is rapidly becomming the BMW of the computing world. No sooner do you purchase a computer than they come out with an updated version. Of course, like BMW, they are 20 to 30 years ahead in terms of R&D so they know exactly what they are doing: banking that you will upgrade. The iPhone is another example -- you can't even find accessories at an Apple store for the original model. Apple is beginning to make Microsoft look ethical.

[oliver @ Oct 14th 2008 2:59PM]

I'm sure the base price for the air used to be £1199 in the UK, and now its £1299. Funny how the base price in the US has stayed the same.

[Timothy Ricke @ Oct 29th 2008 5:47PM]

The pound value has dropped and the dollar rose thus, the price difference.

[jbrianskog @ Oct 14th 2008 3:59PM]

The real question is: Will it run cooler? It's probably safe to say that with a faster processor and graphics chip, the CPU throttling's going to be even worse.

[eRamzi @ Oct 14th 2008 4:22PM]

i wish i can take my current air and throw it in job's face.
i mean seriously i dropped almost 2 grands 6 months ago, and now they are introducing a new one?
no wonder i wanna go back to my pc. its so freakin cheaper to upgrade it and stay ahead! screw that i'll even have pocket money to buy some xanax for when it crashes!

[Shahryar @ Oct 14th 2008 4:19PM]

My wife has been wanting a MacBook air for a while. I told her at the next refresh we'll get one so that we know don't have to worry about something new coming out for at least a few months. She doesn't do much on her Apple, but really wants the thinness (mainly because she has her work laptop she has to also take with her). So, I'm probably grabbing the $1799 MacBook Air now. Let's see what the student discount rate is since I'm in school. I'll be replacing out her 15" 2.16ghz MacBook Pro w/ 3gb RAM we got back in March, 2007.

I'm sticking with my refurbished 15" 2.2ghz MacBook Pro (SR I believe) that I got in November 2007. I'll upgrade a year or so from now maybe, I usually like selling my Macs when the Applecare is about to end (speaking of which, I need to get the Applecare on my 15" 2.2ghz MBP asap).

[Pretol @ Oct 14th 2008 4:50PM]

don't forget to buy some eggs on the way from home

[WyattERP @ Oct 14th 2008 4:55PM]

I want to know if the SSD is the new Intel based MLC SSD.

Anyone know?

[neil barham @ Oct 14th 2008 4:44PM]

Dude you can sell your original AIR for bank in an hour online, so stop the complaining if you want yesterday buy a dodge not a BMW!!!

[Samson801 @ Oct 14th 2008 7:38PM]

"Now where do I insert this cd into my $2500 laptop..."

[liin @ Oct 14th 2008 9:28PM]

Geez. Then get any other laptop. Now where do I put my luggage on my Ferarri; now where do I put my snowboard on my VW GTI; now why do I need to buy a $1k watch when I can get time from my cell phone; now I'm just gonna poop out the $100 sushi from last night when I could have pooped a $5 burger. It's getting old.

[liin @ Oct 14th 2008 6:19PM]

Why no new glass trackpad with integrated button for Air?

[liin @ Oct 14th 2008 6:33PM]

@ All complaining about the price tag of the SSD version.

Would you guys rather there is no SSD version at all, or would you rather have it available so some rich early adopters can eventually help bring it to mass acceptance so we can get these at a lower price point in the future?

[Paul @ Oct 14th 2008 9:52PM]

Does anyone else think that they should've updated the Air screen to match the MacBook and MBP? When you go to the Mac part of the Apple website, it just looks like the adopted child of the family.

[Justin @ Oct 14th 2008 10:50PM]

Screw Macs and MacBooks... PC all the way!

Seriously though, I can find ALL of these features and more on a good quality notebook pc. The Air is cool but isn't a revolution in notebook design or functionality. For the low price of $2500 *couhgs* I think I'm going to pass

[peter @ Oct 29th 2008 9:49PM]

but its small and light, and (not that i care) its a bit like a diamond ring or necklace because its a status symbol. Well, except that its no good if older than 1 year...